“From the moment Lily first saw Young Master Tang, she knew you were no ordinary forest bird, but a great roc soaring through the heavens. However, I neither wish nor am able to become the Kun fish of the Northern Sea. Merely watching you grow your wings anew is already the greatest reward and enlightenment for me, letting me know that even a simple village girl like me can be of some use. That is enough.”
After these words, a long silence fell.
In her arms, Tang Zhou’s long eyelashes fluttered intermittently, mirroring the trembling of his heart at that moment.
Shen Zhixi’s words were spoken with such sincerity that even she herself was moved by them.
If she didn’t sound convincing enough, how could she win him over?
She pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the blood from his lips. Whether he had let down his guard or simply lacked the strength to resist, this time he did not shy away from her touch. Yet, after the handkerchief passed over them, his lips appeared even redder, like crimson flower petals, causing Shen Zhixi’s gaze to grow fervent.
The slightly open collar below revealed glimpses of his robust physique, which was even more captivating.
The two knife wounds, one deep and one shallow, still seeping blood, did nothing to diminish his beauty; instead, they made him all the more pitiable and heart-wrenching.
When the pad of her thumb accidentally brushed against his lips, both of them froze.
Shen Zhixi pretended to be flustered, quickly withdrawing her hand and murmuring an apology, yet her eyes remained fixed on his lips. His eyelids fluttered, his lashes trembling with a hint of restraint—that controlled, hesitant shyness drove Shen Zhixi’s desire to possess him to its peak.
He did not respond but instead struggled to sit up.
His body was so weak that even this simple motion seemed to drain all his strength. Supporting his chest, he gasped for breath, beads of cold sweat densely covering his forehead.
“Then, Young Master Tang, hold on a little longer. The bed is just two steps ahead. Shall I help you over?”
Tang Zhou glanced sideways at her, nodded weakly, and whispered, “Alright.”
Those two short steps not only exhausted Song Lianzhou’s strength but also left Shen Zhixi feeling weary. As she finally helped him sit on the bed, her body slumped forward, her chin bumping against his forehead. Unprepared, he tried to pull away but, weakened and weighed down by her, involuntarily fell backward.
Just as she was about to kiss his lips, Shen Zhixi hastily raised her hand, pressing her palm against his mouth.
Thus, what she kissed was the back of her own hand.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to kiss him, but she feared arousing his suspicion and causing him to resent her.
“S-sorry.”
After realizing what had happened, Shen Zhixi hurriedly apologized and quickly stood up from him.
Then, she fled the room as if escaping.
She appeared deeply bashful, but once outside, the smile on her face was impossible to conceal. On her palm was the faint imprint of his lips, marked by the blood from his mouth—incomplete yet still enchanting.
She smiled subtly.
Sometimes, not kissing him could be more effective than actually doing so.
Inside the room.
Tang Zhou remained dazed for a long time, unable to regain his composure.
Though he could not see, from her reaction he had already guessed what had transpired. Her deliberate act of covering his mouth to avoid the kiss… To be honest, for a moment he had suspected that she had done it on purpose—pretending to accidentally initiate intimate physical contact to seduce him.
Such tricks and ploys were not unfamiliar to him from his past experiences.
But in the end, she did not. Instead, to avoid suspicion, she blocked him with her hand. Yet even so, she still felt offended, which was why she fled in panic. He had misunderstood her.
After a long while, he slowly came back to his senses.
He raised his hand to touch his lips, as if the warmth from her palm still lingered there…
Nighttime.
“Miss, look, how about this fabric?” Yuanyang held up a translucent white men’s outer robe and asked.
“Hmm.” Shen Zhixi reached out to feel it, then added, “It’s not the best, but it’s not bad either. After all, even something of lesser quality would be unaffordable for country girls like us. That’s enough.”
As she spoke, she reached into the bundle on the table and rummaged through it. Inside were several more pieces of clothing.
“Miss, should we prepare a bath for Tang Zhou?”
“No need. He’s too weak right now, so it’s not convenient. Just wipe him down and change him into clean clothes.”
“Then… who will wipe him down?”
Shen Zhixi paused for a moment, thinking that Tang Zhou probably wouldn’t let them get close enough to wipe his body. But that wasn’t important. What mattered were the clothes themselves.
Not long after, Shen Zhixi entered Tang Zhou’s room carrying a basin of hot water.
Hanging from her wrist was the bundle filled with clothes from earlier.
“Mr. Tang, please don’t move. I’ll take care of it.”
When she entered, Tang Zhou was fumbling to clear the bowls and chopsticks from the table—it was just after dinner. Shen Zhixi hurried in, placed the basin on the washstand, set down the bundle, and then turned to take the bowls and chopsticks from his hands.
“Miss Lily, I can still manage such simple tasks. I feel… always troubling the two of you to take care of me.”
His beautiful eyes were fixed on her, but they held only a sightless, unfocused gaze.
Under the candlelight, his eyes seemed to shimmer like stars.
For a moment, Shen Zhixi was dazzled, thinking to herself: Even blind, he looks so handsome.
“It’s alright, Mr. Tang. You won’t need someone to take care of you forever. When my sister went into the city, she asked the doctor. He said your blindness is due to a blood clot in your brain from the impact. Once the clot dissipates, your eyesight will return.”
He shifted his gaze slightly, his expression unreadable, and simply replied, “I see.”
Shen Zhixi withdrew her gaze and stacked the bowls and chopsticks.
“Mr. Tang, I’ve brought a basin of hot water to wipe you down. There’s a lot of bloodstains on your chest. I’ve also prepared clothes for you. Let me help you over. Once you change, just toss the old clothes on the floor. I’ll come back later to clean up.”
Tang Zhou thanked her softly upon hearing this.
Shen Zhixi smiled without speaking, pleased that he was no longer as resistant as he had been at first.
“The basin is right in front of you. Test the water temperature.”
She took his wrist through her sleeve and guided his hand downward. When his fingers touched the water, he flinched slightly.
“Is it too hot?”
“No.” He shook his head, then voluntarily lowered his hand further, immersing his entire palm in the water. “It’s just right, not too hot.”
“That’s good.”
Shen Zhixi released his hand and turned to take the clothes from the bundle, laying them out on the bed.
“I’ve prepared both inner and outer garments. They’re on the bed right beside you, within easy reach. I’ll leave now. I’ll close the doors and windows for you. Take your time and be careful. If you need anything, just call out.”
“Thank you, Miss Lily.”
“You’re welcome.”
Shen Zhixi went to close the window, then carried the bowl and chopsticks out the door. Yuanyang happened to pass by and took the items from her hands. She returned to her own room, opened the window facing the opposite door, and leaned against the doorframe, lost in thought.
Although the door and windows opposite were tightly shut, she could see the shadow of a figure cast by candlelight.
What she had told Tang Zhou about the doctor was indeed true. The doctor had said that if the blood clot in his head could dissolve, his blindness would naturally be restored.
This added another layer of uncertainty.
The blood clot might dissolve any day, so she had to act quickly.
The figure behind the paper window across the way was exceptionally clear. Judging by the movements, they were slowly removing their clothes.